Pencil With the Word Homework Written on It Clip Art
The research
- Why you should trust the states
- Who this is for
- How we picked
- How we tested
- Our selection: Palomino Gilt Bear (Bluish)
- Flaws but non dealbreakers
- Budget choice: Dixon Ticonderoga (Yellow)
- Upgrade pick: Palomino Blackwing 602
- As well corking: Faber-Castell Grip Graphite EcoPencil
- Pencil sharpeners and other accessories
- How sustainable are pencils?
- Other good pencils
- The competition
Why y'all should trust united states
For this guide, I spent hours writing in cursive and print, drawing, doodling, shading, sketching, erasing, sharpening, and filling in Scantron bubbling with various pencils. Furthermore, I asked five Wirecutter staffers to test pencils for me: senior staff writers Jackie Reeve, Nancy Redd, and Signe Brewster, and lead editors Tim Barribeau and Ben Keough. All are self-described stationery fanatics.
In the course of my enquiry, I interviewed Caroline Weaver, writer of The Pencil Perfect and Pencils Yous Should Know. I likewise spoke with Robert Franek, editor in chief of The Princeton Review, who provides training and guidance for students taking standardized tests. Both of these sources, unprompted, informed me that they endemic jumbo (like, bigger than a baseball game bat) novelty Ticonderoga pencils, then you know they take pencils seriously.
Who this is for
Pencils have been around for hundreds of years, and today they're used by students, artists, woodworkers, archivists, and other professionals to brand precise, dark marks that can be cleanly erased. This guide focuses on pencils designed for Chiliad–12 students to write, describe, doodle, take notes, and complete exams. But even if you lot've left school, it'due south overnice to have a few good pencils on hand to write letters, say, or to practise a crossword puzzle.
Pencils that are specifically designed for certain activities (such as drawing, drafting, examination taking, calligraphy, and education people how to write) are beyond the scope of this guide, simply we may examination them at some betoken in the future.
How we picked
First, nosotros scanned the websites of major retailers like Amazon, Office Max, Staples, Target, and Walmart to observe the virtually widely available pencil brands. We also checked out the curated offerings at Pencils.com, a pencil store owned by California Cedar Products, a major supplier of pencil wood in the US. Then we narrowed our listing based on the following criteria:
- Atomic number 82 class: We considered only those pencils that were No. 2/HB grade—which refers to the ratio of graphite to clay in the cadre, determining its color and hardness—or, for pencils without a listed lead grade, like the Blackwings, a similar core composition. Not every No. 2/HB pencil is created equal, since No. 2/HB is more of an industry guideline than a rule. Only such pencils are withal compulsory for most standardized tests, such as the Human activity, SAT, and AP exams. Co-ordinate to Franek, like the decision to maintain in-person, pencil-and-paper exams even during a pandemic, the reasoning behind the No. ii/HB pencil rule is primarily to assist ensure a similar environment for every pupil taking these tests. It'south likewise only a "expert, clear, heart-of-the-road" lead course, he said, whereas marks from darker leads don't always erase completely, and lighter ones can smudge or be as well faint for the Scantron machines that grade the tests to detect.
- Eraser: We considered only those pencils with erasers on the end, since we were primarily looking at pencils for writing and schoolwork—activities that require a handy eraser. Almost pencil erasers are made of synthetic rubber or vinyl, which heats upwardly and becomes sticky when rubbed against a piece of paper—causing graphite particles to stick to the eraser instead of the paper.
- Hexagonal or triangular barrel shape: Hexagonal pencils (or semi-hex, which have slightly rounded corners) are adequately ubiquitous, and they're great for everyday use considering they allow you to go a house grip and won't roll off an inclined desk-bound as easily as a round pencil. Triangular pencils offer these benefits, too—they may exist even more roll-resistant, and some people notice them easier to grip—but they're less common.
- Woods quality: Nearly pencil brands don't annunciate the specific type of wood they're using, especially in cheaper options. But nosotros preferred pencils made of incense cedar, which Caroline Weaver said was "the gold standard" of pencil forest. In our experience, other common pencil woods similar basswood or poplar tend to exist shaggier when sharpened—and we prefer cedar'south earthy, camphoraceous fragrance.
- Pre-sharpened: We didn't crave every pencil to come pre-sharpened, but we did prefer it because some teachers ask that students go far at school with sharpened pencils.
- Price: Nosotros didn't set a hard cost cap, only we did prefer cheaper pencils that were available for purchase in bulk. We tried to exam pencils beyond a wide range of prices, from less than x¢ to more $ii per pencil.
This process left us with xi pencils to test: the AmazonBasics Pre-sharpened Wood Cased Pencil, the Arteza Wood Cased Pencil, the Palomino Blackwing 602, the Dixon Ticonderoga (Black), the Dixon Ticonderoga (Yellow), the General Semi-Hex 498, the Madisi Wood-Cased Pencil, the Musgrave Harvest 320, the Palomino ForestChoice, the Staedtler Norica (Bluish), and the USA Gold Classic Wood Pencil.
In a subsequent circular of testing, we pitted 10 others against the standouts: the Blackwing Natural, the Blackwing Palomino (Blueish), the Blackwing Palomino (Orange), the Dixon Ticonderoga Tri-Write, the Faber-Castell Grip Graphite EcoPencils with Eraser, the General Cedar Pointe 333, the Mitsubishi 9850, the Palomino Golden Comport (Bluish), the USA-made Aureate Deport (Orange), and the Thailand-made Aureate Behave (Orange).
How we tested
To start, I sent every tester a packet containing two of each pencil (in case whatsoever were defective) and each pencil accessory. I asked the testers to rank each pencil'southward writing ability from best (smooth and dark) to worst (grainy and faint). They besides answered the following questions:
- Are any of the pencils especially comfortable or uncomfortable to write with?
- Do any of the erasers work particularly well (erasing marks completely with minimal tearing) or especially badly (leaving marks or smudges behind or vehement the paper)?
- Exercise whatsoever of the pencils sharpen especially well (with long, make clean shavings) or especially badly (with lots of crumbly shavings)?
- Did whatsoever of the pencils you received have noticeable defects (such every bit flaky paint or a wiggly ferrule)?
Our pick: Palomino Aureate Comport (Blueish)
Our option
The Palomino Gilt Bear (Bluish) has the all-time combination of writing, erasing, condolement, and sharpening abilities of whatsoever pencil we tested—aside from the pricier Palomino Blackwing 602, that is—and information technology's made from cream-of-the-crop pencil wood (incense cedar). It's as well fairly cheap and available for purchase in bulk.
The core of the Golden Conduct is a medium-soft, dark pb with a No. 2 form. Information technology makes precise, clear marks without much pressure, avoiding the "stickiness" that sometimes plagues pencils in this price range (such equally the AmazonBasics, Madisi, and the black Ticonderoga). While it doesn't write as fluidly as our upgrade selection (or even the cheaper Arteza), it was among the best performers in writing ability of those nosotros tested.
The Golden Behave has a soft, orange eraser that cleanly removes marks without damaging the paper, and our testers generally enjoyed using it—though 1 tester said it felt a fleck "grainy" in texture. The eraser is firmly attached to the body of the pencil by a golden, crimped-aluminum ferrule (crimping helps eternalize the ferrule, as aluminum is a relatively flimsy material) with a decorative band of red paint.
The incense-cedar forest of the Golden Bear is a stake reddish color, and information technology emits a woodsy smell when sharpened. It's coated in a glossy, indigo paint with metallic-gilt lettering neatly stamped into the barrel. It has a hexagonal shape, offering a skillful grip for your fingers while you're writing and preventing it from hands rolling off of apartment surfaces. The corners of its hexagon are adequately angular (like the yellow Ticonderoga), but they don't dig into your fingertips equally much as other pencils we tested (like the Musgrave Harvest 320). Most of our testers found it comfortable to write with, even later filling several notebook pages with cursive handwriting and filling in dozens of Scantron bubbling.
The Golden Bears we tested had no noticeable defects—such every bit sloppy or flaking paint, a wiggly ferrule, or an off-center cadre—all of which can indicate lapses in quality control. We also appreciate that they're manufactured in a single facility, whereas other pencils (like our upkeep choice, which is primarily made in either Communist china or United mexican states) tin can have slight differences in construction or materials depending on where they're made.
This pencil has a midrange toll compared with others nosotros tested. At this writing, it costs 33¢ per pencil if you buy a 12-pack, or 24¢ per pencil if you buy a gross. In dissimilarity, the Blackwing 602 costs about $2.08 per pencil, the Faber-Castell costs about 80¢ per pencil, and the Dixon Ticonderoga (Yellow) costs about 17¢ to 65¢ per pencil depending on how many yous buy.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
This pencil does not come up pre-sharpened, which nosotros'd prefer to save time up front and because some teachers require it. All the same, information technology's a minor inconvenience for most people to acuminate their own pencils (unless you use David Rees' method), and ane of our testers said they adopt their pencils to come unsharpened so the points don't break in transit.
Nearly of our testers had lukewarm feelings about sharpening the Golden Bear by hand, and one commented that it produced "small, crumbly" woods shavings. I found it more than cumbersome to sharpen direct out of the box but smoother on subsequent sharpenings. We would have liked to see more consistency throughout our testing when information technology came to sharpening the Golden Bear—ideally, for the best overall feel, a pencil should sharpen effortlessly every fourth dimension—but nosotros don't call back this is an egregious flaw.
Lastly, nosotros wish the barrel of this pencil was more than like that of the Palomino ForestChoice and the Thailand-made Palomino Gold Behave (Orangish) semi-hex pencils, as their lightly sanded-down corners brand them a bit more enjoyable to hold. However, the bluish Gold Deport is still quite comfortable to write with (and, different those pencils, it's available to buy in bulk).
Budget pick: Dixon Ticonderoga (Yellow)
Budget selection
Dixon Ticonderoga (Yellow)
Adept performance for the price
Quality command for this iconic pencil seems to accept gone downhill over the years, merely it's still the all-time cheap pencil you can purchase. It has a decent eraser, it writes and sharpens smoothly, and information technology's comfortable to grasp and write with for long periods of time.
Ownership Options
We don't call up Ticonderogas are "The World's All-time PENCIL," equally their packaging loudly proclaims. Merely the Dixon Ticonderoga (Yellow) is the best selection we tested that costs less than xx¢ per pencil. It performed well in our writing and sharpening tests, and it did decently well in erasing and comfort. And it'southward one of the virtually widely available pencils, so it's unlikely to ever become out of stock.
As you might expect from such an iconic pencil, the yellow Ticonderoga contains a No. two/HB core that makes dark, fluid marks. Our testers generally enjoyed writing with it, placing it just ahead of our superlative pick in their average rankings for writing power.
On the other hand, our testers were ho-hum about this pencil'southward eraser, which has a slightly gooey texture and a bubble-gum pinkish colour. The only tester to comment on information technology wrote that it "doesn't erase much," and I constitute that it left more smudges and traces of marks behind than I would have liked. This result was disappointing, since its silvery-and-blackness sibling had one of the best erasers of whatever pencil we tested. A foliage-greenish ferrule made of crimped aluminum and adorned with two bands of xanthous paint firmly attaches the eraser to the xanthous barrel.
Dixon says this pencil is made of "premium wood," though what kind is unclear—in our tests, it lacked the singled-out "redwood forest" aroma that our other picks gave off when sharpened. (The boxes shown on some retail sites are emblazoned with a "100% American cedar wood" insignia, but none of the boxes we've received in ii rounds of testing have had this symbol.) The body has a hexagonal shape, and it'southward painted a sunny yellow color that has become synonymous with schoolwork. None of the testers remarked that it was especially comfortable or uncomfortable to write with, though I found it to have slightly softer corners than our top choice—well-nigh a semi-hex shape.
The yellow Ticonderoga normally comes pre-sharpened (though, like with the wood type, it's hard to know what y'all're going to become when you lot place an society—some of ours did and some didn't), and information technology performed well in our sharpening tests. One tester reported "relatively bully shavings," and another wrote that it produced "dainty curls" of forest.
I strike against Dixon's pencils is something we couldn't fairly assess in our testing: quality command. Weaver told the states that she has never stocked Ticonderogas in her store because "the leads within are frequently broken, or they're not well-centered then they don't sharpen well." In the years since Dixon was acquired by an Italian company in 2005, she says, the attention to item has gone downhill in comparison with smaller companies. (Dixon didn't respond to our request for comment.)
However, Weaver has best-selling that in some places—especially in rural areas like where she grew up—Ticonderogas might exist the best available option. And of the pencils we tested in this toll range, they were standouts, as other competitors had crummy erasers, flaky pigment, or a combination of diverse flaws that knocked them out of the running. At this writing, yous tin get the xanthous Ticonderoga pencils for 25¢ apiece if you buy a 12-pack or for about 19¢ each if you buy a box of 144. If you lot're on a tight budget, or if our other picks are unavailable, this is your best bet.
Upgrade pick: Palomino Blackwing 602
Upgrade option
Palomino Blackwing 602
The Cadillac of pencils
This pencil has a buttery-soft outside, a replaceable eraser, an incense-cedar butt, and a polish, dark core. But it costs more than twice every bit much as most writing pencils, and you lot tin can't use information technology on standardized tests.
The Palomino Blackwing 602 passed nearly all of our tests with distinction—but information technology doesn't come up cheap. One Wirecutter reader, Andy Welfle, who co-hosts a podcast about pencils in his spare time, tweeted that "reviewing a Blackwing along with those others is similar bringing a loaded-out Escalade into a review ready of mid-level sedans." And after testing them all, we tend to agree with this sentiment. However, it'due south 1 of but a few high-end pencils we know of (our too-great pick is another) that has both a No. two/HB core (though it'southward not labeled as such, information technology has a comparable color and texture) and an eraser on the stop. There are enough of prissy drawing pencils that are probably just equally cracking to write with, but they lack one or both of those qualities.
Like our top pick, the Blackwing 602 is made of incense cedar by California Cedar Products Company. It has a hexagonal body with soft, rounded edges, and it's covered in a buttery-smooth, night silverish, glossy paint. Subsequently putting it upwards against cheaper pencils, and several other Blackwings, one tester called it "very enjoyable" to grasp, another praised its "luxe, soft coating that feels fantastic," and I thought it was unparalleled in comfort.
Our testers scored the Blackwing 602's writing power equally loftier equally whatever other pencil we tested in terms of clarity and fluidity, too. Other experts concord: Information technology's "smoother than a typical writing pencil" and it "uses firm graphite, ideal for writing," according to JetPens's comprehensive guide to Palomino Blackwing pencils. JetPens also notes that it's "the pencil that is closest to the original Eberhard Faber Blackwing" that was honey by John Steinbeck and other celebrated pencil-wielders.
A major downside of the Blackwing 602, however, is that information technology'due south non advertised as a No. 2 or HB pencil; no Blackwing pencil has any kind of lead grade printed on its box or barrel. Similar the other Blackwings we tested—the Natural, the Palomino (Blueish), and the Palomino (Orange), all of which accept slightly firmer cores than the 602—its cadre is roughly akin to a typical No. 2/HB in its darkness and hardness, but information technology isn't graded every bit such. So if you were to show upwards to accept the ACT, the Sat, or an AP exam with ane, y'all'd likely be turned away or loaned a different pencil. Exterior of such highly regimented settings, though, it's perfect for taking notes in grade, doing handwritten coursework, and writing responses to short-answer or essay exam questions.
The Blackwing 602 is the only pencil we tested with a replaceable eraser, which is a more elegant alternative to a cheap eraser cap if the eraser wears down to an unusable nub earlier the rest of the pencil does (replacement erasers cost nearly 30¢ apiece, which is more than the price of most of the complete pencils we tested). Its curvaceous, gilded ferrule is nearly twice every bit long as a typical pencil'southward ferrule, and tiny clasps on either side permit yous to move the eraser up a few millimeters at a time as it starts to wear down. One of our testers said that "information technology didn't exercise a bang-up task erasing" compared with other models, notwithstanding, and the other testers had no comments. Personally, I call up it's a good eraser, and I prefer the shape (flat and rectangular like a book, unlike most pencils' cylindrical erasers) considering you tin can apply either a single corner for precision erasing or the full height edge for tackling big areas.
Like our acme option, the Blackwing 602 does not come pre-sharpened. And while most of our testers found that it sharpened smoothly, one noted that it "had small shavings during sharpening," and another reported that it was "a little difficult to acuminate." In my experience, much like our tiptop choice, the Blackwing 602 was tougher to sharpen on the get-go become-around merely silky smooth afterward that—producing long, zig-zaggy tendrils of wood.
The Blackwing 602 is the most expensive pencil nosotros tested by far—about $2.08 per pencil at this writing, or more than six times as costly as our top selection. It'south besides available to purchase only in a pack of 12, so unlike with our other picks you tin can't save a few bucks by buying in bulk.
Too keen: Faber-Castell Grip Graphite EcoPencil
Also great
If you have problem gripping the standard-sized, hexagonal pencils we recommend, or you prefer a triangular barrel for another reason, yous should get the Faber-Castell Grip Graphite EcoPencils with Eraser. It's the simply triangular pencil nosotros've tested that we recommend, and it embodies nigh of the same qualities we prize in our other picks. In improver to its triangular shape, it'due south unique among our picks for its raised bumps toward the tip of the pencil, which may make it easier for some people to grasp.
Faber-Castell is one of the earth'due south oldest writing-implement makers, but it's improve known for its high-quality drawing pencils; as such, this is one of the few pencils the visitor makes with an eraser on the cease. The core of the Grip Graphite EcoPencil has a No. 2/HB grade and makes smooth, moderately dark marks that can be erased cleanly. Its black eraser performed well in our testing, and it'due south attached to the body of the pencil with a blackness, crimped-aluminum ferrule. Iii testers said it was their favorite eraser, and i noted that it "left the most eraser material behind, though was fairly thorough in removing the marks."
In full general, triangular pencils are fifty-fifty more than averse to rolling off an inclined desk than hexagonal pencils, as their flat sides provide a more stable base of operations with more surface area. Also, depending on how you lot hold a pencil, you might find a triangular barrel more comfortable than other shapes. While the shape sets information technology autonomously from most pencils we've tested, just as notable are the minor, raised dots roofing most of the barrel. These dots—acting like bumps on the sole of a no-skid sock—reduce rubbing and add together cushioning to create a more comfortable grip than most pencils offer. They're soft, shallow, and well-spaced, and they didn't impede writing or sharpening abilities in our testing. "Love the bumpy Faber-Castell," said ane tester, and another told me they "found the Faber-Castell Grip quite comfortable," despite disliking other triangular pencils they've tried.
Below these grips, the Faber-Castell is coated in a matte-silver paint, which contrasts nicely with the pencil'due south black details. Its wood blazon isn't listed (making it our only selection, aside from the Ticonderoga, that'south non exclusively made of incense cedar), and information technology has a distinctly shaggier wait than our other picks when sharpened. Only on the positive side, it'south certified by the Wood Stewardship Council, which means the wood has been sustainably harvested from well-managed forests. Information technology's also made in a single location (Frg) whereas some pencils, like our budget pick, are fabricated in various facilities and tend to have more inconsistencies.
Compared with most pencils nosotros tested, the Faber-Castell is on the pricier side (77¢ apiece at the time of this writing), and it'due south non available to buy in bulk. That's still considerably less than our upgrade pick, only more than than twice every bit much as our top pick and about 4 times as much as our budget pick. However, nosotros call back these are reasonable tradeoffs, given its specialty shape, upscale look, and good overall operation.
Pencil sharpeners and other accessories
In our most contempo round of testing for this guide, nosotros tested a variety of pencil accessories. These tools aren't strictly necessary—though y'all won't get far without a sharpener, at the very least—but they can ameliorate the overall feel and assist you get the almost out of your pencils.
Sharpeners
We've recommended the Prismacolor Premier Pencil Sharpener for years, and we still think information technology's the best manual pencil sharpener for near people. It'due south like shooting fish in a barrel to use and well-built, and it has a sleek look. Information technology has a small hole for sharpening standard-size pencils to a fine betoken, as well as a larger pigsty for sharpening at a shallower angle (or for sharpening slightly fatter pencils). Information technology has a roomy compartment with a secure, flip-tiptop hat to contain your shavings, so y'all don't accept to sharpen while continuing over a trash can.
However, if you like your pencils to accept an extra-long point for writing or sketching, we think y'all should get the KUM Automatic Brake Long-Point 2-Footstep Pencil Sharpener. (If it's unavailable, Blick sells an identical, branded version that usually costs about the aforementioned.) The KUM ii-Step is a adept size, sliding easily into a pocket or pencil case, and comfortable to concord while sharpening. Information technology has a clear hat, so you can run into when it's full of shavings, and it flips open for quick and piece of cake emptying. It has 2 holes (one for shaving down the wooden butt, and the other for honing the graphite down to a fine point) and its blades are super sharp. Information technology also has a trivial compartment for actress blades in the back, containing two spares (you lot'll demand to use a little Phillips-head screwdriver, which isn't included, to replace them). It's too one of the to the lowest degree expensive sharpeners we tested, costing $v (a few bucks less than the Prismacolor) at the time of this writing.
We tested the KUM 2-Step against several other long-point sharpeners, including the K+R Pollux Sharpener and the KUM Masterpiece Sharpener. Both of these sharpeners are cult favorites amid pencil connoisseurs, but they didn't live upwards to the hype. They're sturdily built and beautiful to look at—the Masterpiece even comes with a cute little neoprene case—but due to their small size they're less comfortable to hold while sharpening than most transmission sharpeners. They also lack a compartment for shavings, which is impractical and messy for people who don't take a trash tin can near their desk. Plus, they were two of the priciest options we considered (costing $25 and $15, respectively) at the time of this writing.
Nosotros besides tried the Blackwing Ii-Step Long-Signal Sharpener, which is essentially the same sharpener as the KUM ii-Step (both incorporate a KUM Masterpiece Sharpener inside) but with a smaller shavings compartment and Blackwing branding on the side. It's a great sharpener, but because of its size information technology holds fewer woods shavings, then you have to empty information technology more than frequently than the KUM 2-Step or the Prismacolor Premier. Also, at the fourth dimension of this writing, information technology costs about twice equally much ($x) as those sharpeners.
The Blackwing One-Footstep Long-Point Sharpener is elegant-looking and sturdily built, and it feels pleasantly weighty in your mitt while you're sharpening. All the same, it took ages to acuminate pencils compared with the other sharpeners nosotros tested, and it didn't go the points as long (or as pointy) as some other options. Information technology'due south likewise particularly expensive at $20 at the time of this writing.
Extenders
A pencil extender (also chosen a holder, lengthener, or sleeve) is substantially a pencil prosthesis—a helpful appendage you can add to the back finish of your pencil when yous've sharpened it and so much that it's too short to hold comfortably. We tested the Koh-I-Noor Pencil Lengthener and Full general Pencil Company's "The Miser" Pencil Extender and found that they both performed equally well—in fact, they have an identical metal machinery to attach your pencil to the extender. All the same, nosotros slightly prefer the Koh-I-Noor version since it'due south slightly more than stylish and costs less at the time of this writing.
Point caps
The point of a point cap is to keep pencil points pointy. In other words, if you like to acquit your pencils around with you, a point cap (also chosen a lead cap, a pencil cap, or a point guard) can help forestall the points from becoming dull or breaking in transit. Like a cap on a ballpoint pen, a pencil cap commonly has a half-inch or so of empty space at the tiptop, making it more protective than transporting your pencils loose in a haversack or pencil case.
We tested four models, and our favorite was the Kutsuwa Stad Aluminum Pencil Cap. If you lot get a pack of 4, information technology costs about 60¢ apiece, at the time of this writing. Information technology's sleek, shiny, and sophisticated-looking. (We call back its silver finish looks especially prissy when paired with a pencil with a argent ferrule, such equally the Mitsubishi 9850.) It stayed deeply on our pencils throughout our testing, and it'due south the simply i we tested with a slit upwardly the side, allowing it to fit on fat pencils also every bit standard-sized barrels. Plus, the set up comes with mucilaginous labels—to label your pencils with your proper name, we assume, or perchance your pencils' names—too every bit a modest sharpener.
The Palomino Blackwing Indicate Guard was the nearly expensive point cap we tested by far—costing $twenty for a pack of three at the time of this writing—and we don't call up it'southward earned its large price tag. While it certainly looks more than luxurious than the plastic caps we tried, and it's sturdier than the Kutsuwa (fabricated of a thicker, heavier aluminum that feels far more robust), we didn't like how tightly information technology fit on virtually pencils. Even though information technology's ostensibly fabricated for Blackwing pencils, it was and so tight that it scratched the paint off some of their barrels in our testing, so if you're assail shelling out for them y'all should just use them with unpainted pencils.
Eraser caps
If you're like us, you probably run out of eraser long before using up the rest of the pencil (or maybe nosotros only brand lots of mistakes). While y'all can e'er use a handheld eraser, or swap in a replacement eraser if you're using a Blackwing, an eraser cap is a handy way to extend the lifespan of a pencil. Nosotros tested iv models, and our favorite was the KUM Mini-Cap Eraser. It costs 49¢ at the time of this writing, comes in a diverseness of colors, and erases marks smoothly and cleanly. Best of all, it has a slightly longer gage than most eraser caps, so it stays firmly in identify while in use.
The Faber-Castell Grip 2001 Eraser Cap has an even longer cuff than the KUM, creating a comfy surface to grip while erasing, and giving it an elegant wait. However, we didn't think it erased marks quite equally well equally the KUM, and at about $three.40 apiece it was besides the priciest eraser cap we tested.
How sustainable are pencils?
Wood is the primary component of the pencils we tested for this guide, which is a renewable and biodegradable material. And while many tree species are threatened or endangered, none of the most common types of pencil forest—incense cedar, basswood, white fir, and poplar—come from high-risk species. And then, wooden pencils can be relatively sustainable, though their smaller components (the graphite cores, the rubber or latex erasers, the aluminum ferrules, and the paint) volition likely sit in a landfill for decades before breaking down entirely.
If you lot desire to be more environmentally mindful in your pencil usage, at that place are a few simple steps you can have:
- Avert ownership pencils made with pitted or pockmarked woods, as these small holes often indicate that the wood has been unsustainably harvested from a deforested region. Adding insult to injury, in our experience, their grainy texture causes uneven sharpening.
- Avoid ownership pencils fabricated with extruded plastic. Unlike wood, plastic isn't renewable or biodegradable, and it'southward harmful to marine ecosystems.
- Look for a seal of approval from the Woods Stewardship Council, a nonprofit that independently determines if wood has been sustainably harvested. Even if the company doesn't list the specific kind of wood its pencils are made of, it should still have this certification.
- Dispose of components individually when possible, such every bit the wood shavings (which are compostable) and the aluminum ferrule (which you can remove and recycle like yous would a soda tin can).
- Recycle your used pencils. If you have lots of writing utensils to unload, yous can drop them off at participating Staples stores, request a gratuitous shipping label from Bic, or buy a prepaid TerraCycle box to send them in for recycling.
- Buy vintage. Rather than buying newly manufactured pencils, yous tin can buy pencils that have already existed for years—retrieve of it as the earth'southward tiniest carbon beginning—at your local thrift stores, sites similar Etsy or eBay, or specialized retailers like Pencillarium or The Thackery. But don't programme to rely on the built-in erasers, as the ones on sometime pencils are often brittle and unusable (since rubber and latex degrade much faster than wood and graphite).
Other expert pencils
If yous like our upgrade pick, just prefer a different stop and core: The Blackwing Natural, the Blackwing Palomino (Blue), and the Blackwing Palomino (Orange) are virtually identical to the Blackwing 602, but with two main differences. Unlike the 602, the Natural has an unpainted finish, and the Palominos have the same glossy stop as our elevation option, all of which feel less luxurious than the 602's velvety exterior. They as well have actress-firm graphite cores, whereas the 602'south house core is a bit softer and darker (but all are in the general realm of a No. ii/HB-course core).
If you lot like our top option, but adopt an unpainted butt and slightly rounded corners: The Palomino ForestChoice used to be our summit pick, and like the Golden Deport it's made of incense cedar, contains a No. ii/HB cadre, and has a great eraser. It was one of the all-time performers in terms of writing power in our testing, though it got and then-then reviews in sharpening and comfort (most testers liked its semi-hex shape, but some said they'd prefer a painted barrel since raw forest can feel rough confronting skin). Other than these quibbles, we chose to oust the ForestChoice considering it was out of stock at most retailers, and nosotros could no longer find information technology in majority anywhere. But if you tin get it for a reasonable price, it'southward still a great pencil.
If you like the ForestChoice, merely it's unavailable: The General Cedar Pointe 333 contains a No. ii/HB core that makes dark, fluid marks. Its black eraser removes marks cleanly, and it matches the black ferrule and blackness lettering on the side of the unpainted barrel, giving the pencil a hitting look. It's made of premium incense-cedar wood and has a comfy, hexagonal shape (similar the ForestChoice, and our upgrade and budget picks, its corners feel slightly rounded). Information technology comes pre-sharpened and sheds long, crisp tendrils of forest when sharpened past mitt. However, even if you buy it by the gross, it costs almost 83¢ per pencil at the time of this writing. And, like the Blackwing Natural and the ForestChoice, some of our testers detested its unpainted barrel. (One commented, "I cannot stand unfinished pencils. The raw-wood texture gives me the heebie-jeebies. It'due south like when yous bite into a popsicle and go the wooden stick. It's but a textural weirdness that I hate.") But if y'all can tolerate the feeling of raw woods confronting your fingers—or fifty-fifty prefer it to a painted finish, as some of our testers did—this is another great selection.
If you similar our top pick, just adopt an orange barrel and don't need to buy in bulk: There are two versions of the Gilded Comport (Orange), ane of which is identical to our peak selection except it's just available in packs of 12 (whereas you tin can besides buy our top pick by the gross). The other version is made in Thailand, information technology's just available in packs of 12, and its hexagonal barrel has slightly rounded corners. Also, information technology'southward emblazoned with "TH" on the side instead of "Usa," as well as a pocket-sized icon of a lotus flower (which grows plentifully and symbolizes purity in Thailand).
If you lot're prepared to pay more than twice as much every bit our top pick for a high-performing, groovy-looking pencil, and you don't intendance about buying in bulk: The Mitsubishi 9850 is a delight. In our writing exam, all of our panelists ranked it in their top ten (out of all 20 pencils tested) and praised its jet-black, fluid marks. Information technology'south hexagonal in shape, fabricated of incense-cedar wood, and coated in a glossy, maroon paint. Information technology has fairly sharp corners, just it's near as comfy to write with as our top pick. The writing on the barrel is stamped on in silvery ink, and it has a pleasantly 1980s look (one tester likened this pencil's artful to that of the 2018 retro-fabulous miniseries Bedlamite). I don't love the big, white barcode printed on the side of the barrel, but information technology kind of works with the overall look of the pencil, and it matches the white eraser—which was one of the best performers of any built-in pencil eraser we tested. It has a silver, crimped-aluminum ferrule that firmly fastens the eraser to the torso of the pencil. Information technology comes unsharpened, and sharpens cleanly by hand; it was a favorite of two of our testers in sharpening, impressively on a par with the much pricier Blackwing and Faber-Castell pencils. Like our longtime favorite pen and mechanical pencil, the Mitsubishi 9850 is made in Japan past the Mitsubishi Pencil Company, which has been around since the 1800s and is unrelated to the homonymous industrial conglomerate.
The competition
The AmazonBasics Pre-sharpened Woods Cased Pencil was one of the cheapest nosotros considered, just its atomic number 82 was hard and grainy (information technology tied with the blue-hued Staedtler Norica for the penultimate place in our testers' averaged rankings for writing power), and information technology performed poorly in comfort, erasing, and sharpening, also.
The Arteza Wood Cased Pencil was on the cheaper side, and it besides fared pretty well overall in our testing—ranking just later on the Blackwing 602 in writing power and middling in comfort and sharpening. Unfortunately, its eraser performed worse than that of every other pencil we tested: One tester wrote "didn't erase" and "felt rubbery" in their feedback, and another wrote "doesn't erase much and also sheds."
The Dixon Ticonderoga (Blackness) has one of the best erasers of any pencil we tested, but sadly it performed much worse than its yellowish twin in writing ability. Along with the AmazonBasics and Madisi pencils, one tester said, this pencil's "lead was too difficult and sticky, causing me to have to use more than force to write."
The Dixon Ticonderoga Tri-Write is one of but two triangular pencils nosotros tried in our latest round of testing—the other existence our too-slap-up pick. Information technology lacks the Faber-Castell's grippiness, though, and three panelists called it out as the least comfortable pencil to concord and write with amidst those tested.
The General Semi-Hex 498 is made of incense cedar, and it's one of the nearly comfortable pencils nosotros tested. However, it's more than expensive than pencils that performed just as well or improve, and some of our testers noted paint flaking off the sides of its barrel.
The Madisi Forest-Cased Pencil is one of the cheapest pencils we considered, only it's as well the absolute worst pencil nosotros tested in pretty much every style. Our testers institute information technology to exist lightweight and unwieldy, making it difficult and uncomfortable to write with. I tester wrote, "I felt like I couldn't really control it to keep my handwriting corking, especially when I was writing in cursive." All but one of our testers ranked it last in writing ability (and the defecting tester ranked it second-to-last).
The Musgrave Harvest 320 was a good all-around performer in our testing, but it'southward typically a little pricier than our pinnacle pick, information technology earned a lower average ranking in writing ability, and since its corners are sharper than most pencils information technology can be less comfortable to write with over long periods of time. As well, unlike our height option, it's made of basswood instead of incense cedar, so information technology'due south more decumbent to splintering and other imperfections. Musgrave makes a cedar version, which comes in a cedar keepsake box, but we haven't tested it since it costs more than iii times as much per pencil.
The Staedtler Norica (Blue) is i of the most expensive pencils nosotros tested, as well as ane of the worst performers. It scored just as desperately as the AmazonBasics and but slightly alee of the Madisi in writing ability.
The USA Gold Archetype Wood Pencil gave the classic yellowish Ticonderoga a run for its money—we plant it slightly more comfy to grasp and write with, and it's usually a few cents cheaper. Still, our testers didn't rank it quite equally highly in their writing-power comparisons, and the pigment on its barrel was really flaky.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-pencils/
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